This hike is safe for children as there are no high drop-offs or major obstacles. There will be a little rock scrambling, and fallen logs across the trail in its upper reaches. And keep in mind there is an elevation gain of 880 feet, which might prove too strenuous for some.
Hiker heads into a narrow section of Fletcher Canyon.
Since the trailhead elevation is at about seven thousand feet, expect temperatures much cooler than in Las Vegas. When I last hiked there, it was eighty-seven degrees in Las Vegas, but only sixty-one at the Fletcher Canyon trailhead. Such a difference is typical.
From the signed trailhead, pick up the obvious trail which heads up a small hill. Here you will find ponderosa and pinyon pine trees, mountain mahogany, manzanita, and oak. After a few hundred yards the trail curves around to the left and you will be walking next to a wide, but usually dry, wash.
The trail is well-worn and easy to follow. You will cross the main drainage three times. About one and one-quarter miles from the trailhead you will cross the drainage once more but this time you will find a small spring-fed stream.
From here on the canyon has more vegetation; in summer you will find plenty of thistle, red columbine, and penstemon.
Steller’s jays, recognized by their dark blue color and a prominent crest, love this canyon, as do a few broad-tailed hummingbirds. This is mountain lion territory, so keep an eye out for tracks in the damp or muddy areas.
Once you cross the stream, the trail becomes a little more strenuous over the next fifty yards or so, then drops into the drainage itself where you will head left. If thunderstorms threaten, stay out of the wash for fear of flash floods. From here on up, there is no easily accessible high ground for refuge.
Even days after rain, you might find pools of water in this part of the canyon. Be careful hopping from rock to rock. They are slick and can twist an ankle, or worse.
As you head up the rocky canyon, the wash itself will serve as your trail most of the time. In a few areas, paths take you up and around small obstacles.
When the canyon narrows even more, you will come to a boulder jam blocking easy progress. Although you will see a faint path heading up the terrain to the right, it is easier to climb up to the left of the boulder.
After this, the walking is easy except for crossing a few fallen logs. In the canyon’s narrowest section, the walls rise some one hundred feet, yet are so close in places that a long-armed person could probably touch both sides at once.
The narrows continue for about fifty yards, and mark the hike’s end for most. But it’s worth climbing up above the ten-foot boulder to the right and seeing what the upper canyon offers. Here the canyon forks. To the right is a small canyon worth exploring. It’s short and ends after only thirty yards or so, at a dry fall.
Good climbers with more adventure in mind can continue up the canyon along the left fork. Be prepared for intense rock scrambling, as the path is choked with boulders. Once above these obstacles, the terrain is easier.
Fletcher Canyon At A Glance
Best season: May to mid-October, barring snowfall.
Length: Three to four miles roundtrip.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Elevation gain: 880 feet.
Trailhead elevation: 6,920 feet to 7,800 feet.
Warnings: Flash flooding. Equestrians share trail in lower portion. Rock scrambling in upper portion.
Jurisdiction: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Directions: From the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway drive west about 1.1 miles to a parking pullout on left. Trailhead is directly across the street.
14 Robbers Roost
Robbers Roost is the destination of a short, appealing hike, ideal for those new to hiking or who have children along. Even spending some time exploring, adults and older children can do this in an hour, but younger children who want to walk on their own will need more time.
Local legend asserts this small canyon was used to hide contraband, and even stolen animals, after thieves raided travelers along the old Mormon Trail during pioneer days. Whether that’s truth or fiction, the cave-like overhangs and canyon setting would have made an ideal hideout.
From the well-signed trailhead, the obvious trail first crosses the old road built in the 1930s and 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public works agency formed during the Great Depression, to connect Kyle and Lee Canyons. This road just looks like a wash nowadays. As the trail heads west, you will be in a woodland of pinyon pine and white fir, which also contains mountain mahogany. You’ll pass a few ponderosa pines as well.
As you continue your ascent the trail gets a little steeper and small children might find it more difficult going. Rocky terrain and man-made stone stairs create uneven footing, especially hard to maneuver with small legs.
Once you arrive at the base of a giant sloping rock, about five or ten minutes from the trailhead, you will be able to catch a glimpse into the overhang on the right. Although it looks tempting to head off trail and climb directly up here, just continue a bit farther and you’ll find easier access.
After exploring this overhang, and maybe looking for some hidden cache, continue up canyon. In about thirty yards the canyon becomes very narrow and all further progress is blocked. This is a box canyon where you will find yourself at the base of a dry fall. During rainstorms this can become a heavy-flowing waterfall, and the canyon bottom may turn onto a watercourse, so if rain threatens leave this hike for another day.
In the upper canyon look along the canyon walls for evidence that rock climbers also enjoy this area. There are dozens of routes. The most obvious are on the right where you’ll note a series of fixed climbing anchors, called chain draws, heading up the vertical canyon wall.
As you descend from the narrow section, stay to your right and pick up the spur trail which will take you back down to your vehicle, forming a loop. As soon as you get on this path look for another trail directly on your right that will bring you to another overhang or small cave, where children love to play.
Beyond this point the lower loop becomes just narrow enough that it’s awkward to hold a little one’s hand while walking. Yet you’d really need to do so, for there are potentially dangerous drop-offs. So, if small children are among your companions, it’s best to head back the way you came.
Wildfires are a constant threat in the Spring Mountains.
Robber’s Roost is a good choice for children.
Robber’s
